Leather stacker



R. L. GRIFFIN LEATHER STACKER July 23, 1968 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11. 1967 INVENTOR. ROGER L. GRIF'FJN A TT URNE Y July 23, 1968 R. L. GRIFFIN 3,393,908

LEATHER STACKER Filed Sept. 11, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. RUEE' L. ERIFFJNI ATTU NEY' y 23, 1963 R. L. GRIFFIN 3,393,903

LEATHER STACKER Filed Sept. 11, 1967 7 Sheets- Sheet 4.

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N INVENTOR 1% RUEE'R L. GRIFFIN BY g i 7f/W Qfi AT TURNEYQ R. L. GRIFFIN LEATHER STACKER July 23, 1968 7 Sheets Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 11, 1967 INVENTOR R. L. GRIFFIN LEATHERSTACKER July 23, 1968 7 Sheets- Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 11, 1967 INVENTOR. HUEE'H L.E'HIFF1M EYQ July 23, 1968 R. L. GRIFFIN 3,393,908

' LEATHER STACKER Filed Sept. 11, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. 5055!? L EHJFFJN ATTUAW Y c,

United States Patent 3,393,908 LEATHER STACKER Roger L. Griffin, Manchester, Mass, assignor to Swift 8: Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 472,896,

July 19, 1965. This application Sept. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 674,037

13 Claims. (Cl. 271-68) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Hides are serially conveyed along an inclined path to a terminus above a horse upon which they are to be stacked. The distance between the terminus and the top of the stack is measured and adjusted to a selected measure with the deposit of each hide. The leading portion of a hide may be projected to the far side of the horse and the rear portion diverted to the near side, to lay out the hide delivered side upward, or the leading portion may be diverted to the near side of the horse and the trailing portion projected to the far side, to invert the hide.

This application is a continuationin-part of my copending application S.N. 472,896, filed July 19, 1965, now abandoned.

This invention relates to stacking hides and skins upon a stacking horse or the like. More particularly the pres ent invention is an improved method and a greatly simplified and improved apparatus for conveying hides or skins and the like to a point slightly above a stack of such hides on a horse and then sequentially draping the hide or skin and the like, first across one side and then across the other side of the stack.

It is well known in the leather and tanning arts, for instance, to stack hides and the like on horses between various processing operations. A variety of automatic apparatus is already available for this purpose. However, the prior apparatus is generally quite complex, sizable and expensive, and relatively slow in operation. Two forms of such prior apparatus are well known. In one type, such as shown in my prior Patents Nos. 2,837,- 198, 2,855,089 and 3,081,081, each hide is carried sus pended across a roller which in turn is conveyed by endless chains to a point whereat the hide is unrolled from the roller by causing the latter to rotate. In another form of apparatus, shown, for example, in the Morgan et al. Patents Nos. 2,737,390 and 2,754,119, the hides are conveyed -by endless tapes to a swinging boom which is alternately pivoted from one side of a horse to the other as the hide passes. This type of apparatus requires rather elaborate conveying equipment and also involves a very sophisticated time drive to swing the boom at the proper instant. Also both forms of prior apparatus require that hides, or the like, be fed thereto at spaced intervals.

Both types of apparatus require high capital investment and substantial maintenance.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a simplified and improved method and apparatus for stacking sheet material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for stacking hides, and the like, that is adaptable to a wide range of processing rates.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved stacking appartus for hides and the like that utilizes a minimum of moving parts.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified stacking apparatus for hides or the like that is of relatively low initial cost and requires a minimum amount of maintenance.

The basic method of the present invention is to stack successive hides or the like, by conveying them along an upwardly inclined path to a point above the top of the stack and upon reaching that point the leading edge of the hide is projected to one side of the stack. After a predetermined length of the hide passes said point, the remaining trailing portion thereof is diverted to fall upon the opposite side of said stack, and the relative height between the point and the top of the stack is gauged and the point thereafter adjusted upwardly to maintain a substantially constant spacing.

The novel apparatus devised to carry out the method comprises an inclined conveyor means having a projecting means at the upper end thereof for throwing a hide forwardly; and a diverting means, also at the upper end thereof, for reversing the direction of motion of the hide leaving the end of the conveying means to fall rear- Wardly thereof. The apparatus also preferably includes an elevating adjusting means also attached to the upper end of the conveying means to periodically gauge the distance between the top of the stack and the end of the conveying means and adjust the latter upwardly as required.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram; of the preferred embodiment at rest;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram. of the preferred embodiment delivering the leading end of a hide to a stacking horse;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram. of the preferred embodiment delivering the trailing end of a hide to a stacking horse;

FIGURE 6 is a Wiring diagram of the preferred apparatus of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of a modification of the apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of a further modification of the apparatus of this invention having a capability of inverting a hide upon a horse;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of FIGURE 8 diverting the leading edge of a hide to be inverted upon a stacking horse; and

FIGURE 10 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus of FIGURE 8 projecting the trailing edge of a hide to be inverted upon a stacking horse.

Concerning the invention in greater detail, the method comprises receiving successive hides and carrying them upwardly upon an inclined path to a terminal point above a stacking horse generally 10, as shown in FIGURES 3 through 5, 9 and 10. Preferably the hides are carried upwardly at a speed faster than the rate at which they are received so as to effectively space each hide. Prior to reaching the terminal end of the inclined path, the leading edge of each hide is sensed and a jet of air or the like is thereupon directed either forwardly from just beneath the terminal point to project and carry the leading portion of the hide forwardly as it passes beyond that point so that it falls on the far side of the horse or downwardly from above the terminal point to divert the lead ing portion of the hide to fall upon the near side of the horse. Also, upon sensing the oncoming leading edge of a hide, a time delay mechanism is initiated to measure out a period of time required for a desired portion of the hide to pass the terminal point. Normally this period is sufiicient for about one-half of the hide to pass, and

preferably this is one-half the weight of the hide which also represents one-half the surface area present. Upon the completion of this time period, initial jet of air is terminated to either stop the forward projection of the hide whereupon the trailing portion of the hide is diverted somewhat rearwardly to fall upon the near face of the horse or stop diverting the leading portion whereupon the trailing portion is projected to the far side of the stack, thereby inverting the hide. Preferably the hide is held against the stack throughout the period that the trailing portion is delivered. This is of particular advantage where the hide is slippery and might slide from the stack. At about the same time the distance between the top of the stack of hides and the terminal point at the end of the inclined path is measured and the terminal point is adjusted, when necessary, upwardly to maintain the distance at substantially a constant value.

Preferably the leading portion of the hide is first projected forwardly to the far side of a stack, and the trailing portion then diverted rearwardly to the near side while at the same time holding the hide physically, delivered side upward, against the top of the stack. However, the sequence may be reversed to invert the hides by first diverting the leading portion to the near side of the stack, so that the delivered side is turned down, and then projecting the trailing portion to the far side while physically holding the leading portion against the side of the stack. Also the above sequences may be alternated so as to face pairs of hides, that is, to place one hide delivered side up on the stack and the next hide delivered side down, etc.

A preferred apparatus for carrying out the method is illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 5. It is intended that the stacking apparatus deposit hides or the like across a horse which is usually set upon casters 11 for easy manipulation. The usual horse is somewhat triangular in shape and is placed beneath the stacking apparatus so as to present a far side 12 and near side 13 with respect to the end of that apparatus. It may also be advantageous to provide the horse 10 with drop leaves 14 at each of the aforementioned sides so that the horse may be converted into a fiat table or work surface after it is fully loaded.

The stacking apparatus itself comprises an inclined frame 17 which is positioned upwardly from the end of a horizontal delivery conveyor 18. Two elevator legs 19, 20 extend downwardly from the sides of the upper portion of the inclined frame 17 and are actuated by an elevating means generally 21 to be subsequently explained.

The stacking conveyor is comprised of a plurality of spaced ribbons 24 trained between a terminal idler pulley 25 rotatably mounted upon a shaft 26, and a drive pulley 27 that is fixed upon a drive shaft 28. A drive sprocket 29 is also fixed upon the latte-r shaft and is powered to move the upper run of the ribbons 24 upwardly by an electric motor 30 connected to the sprocket through a drive chain 31. It is to be understood that ribbons 24 could also be driven by a suitable connection between drive shaft 28 and the delivery conveyor 18.

It may also be seen that the drive shaft 28 is the pivot point for the entire inclined frame 17, and accordingly it is journaled in suitable bearings in both the frame 17 and the frame of delivery conveyor 18.

Hides, or the like, arriving on the delivery conveyor 18 are transferred to the inclined conveyor by sliding across a plurality of guide fingers 32 which are spaced to interdigitate ribbons of the delivery conveyor 18 and divert hides onto the ribbons 24 of the inclined conveyor. Preferably the ribbons 24 are run at a faster speed than conveyor 18 so as to adequately space the hides thereon.

A first sensing means is located to detect the presence of a hide approaching the terminal pulley 25. Preferably the sensing means is comprised of a plurality of photo cells 36, shown in FIGURE 2, that are located between the various ribbons 24 and are sensitive to the light from an overhead lamp 37 which may be in the ceiling of the building housing the apparatus.

Upon the leading edge of 2. hide passing between the photo cells 36 and lamp 37, an electric circuit, to be later explained, is caused to subsequently actuate a solenoid valve 40 as the leading edge passes pulley 25, to deliver compressed air from a source, not shown, to a manifold 41 located parallel and just beneath the pulley 25. A plurality of jet holes 42 are formed in the manifold 41 to direct the air in a rapidly moving stream forwardly and substantially horizontally of the terminal pulley 25. The leading portion of a hide will be supported on this stream of air to project beyond and across the far side 12 of the horse 10.

At the same time that photo Cells 36 are shaded, a timing mechanism is energized to later, after a preset interval, actuate a diverting means that will direct the remaining trailing portions of the hide to the near side 13 of horse 10. (Also at the latter instant the solenoid valve 40 may be denergized to cut off the pressurized air to manifold 41.) The diverting means is preferably comprised of a plurality of rolls 46 that leave soft, yieldable surfaces and are mounted to idle and freely rotate at space locations on a swingably supported shaft 47. The shaft 47 is mounted in brackets 48, 49 fixed at the left and right side, respectively, of the terminal shaft 26 of the inclined conveyor. A sprocket 50 is also secured to one end of shaft 26 and provides a drive by which the shaft 47 may be swung to move the diverting rolls 46 between inoperative and operative positions above and below the terminal pulley 25, respectively.

A companion sprocket 51 is mounted upon a stub shaft 52 that is reciprocally secured to the same side of the inclined frame 17. The latter stub shaft 52 is also provided with a tension bolt or the like to adjust tension in a drive chain 53 that is trained about the two aforemen tioned sprockets 50 and 51. The two ends of the chain 53 are connected to opposite actuator rods 54, 55 of a double acting pneumatic cylinder 56. A momentarily operated four-way solenoid valve 58 is connected between the pneumatic cylinder 56 and a source of air under pressure, not shown, to cause the cylinder to move in either direction upon actuation by a control circuit to be later described.

At this point the operation of the apparatus can be basically understood as shown in FIGURES 3 through 5. Initially upon reaching the end of the inclined conveyor the air jets 42 of the projecting means will effectively carry the leading portion of a hide across the horse to drape it upon the far side 12 thereof. After a time interval the diverting rolls 46 are swung from an upper, inoperative, to a lower, operative, position as shown in FIGURE 5 to force the remaining trailing portion of the hide to fall on the near side 13 of horse 10. Preferably each hide is held at the top of the stack while the trailing portion is deposited. Also, to enable a large number of succeeding hides to be properly stacked in the same manner, it is necessary to constantly readjust the elevation of the terminal pulley 25 of the inclined conveyor. Accordingly, holding means and elevator adjusting means are provided to engage each hide and readjust the height of the apparatus, if necessary, after each hide is stacked.

The preferred form of elevator adjusting means includes both a second sensing means generally 35 and the elevating power means 21. In the preferred embodiment the second sensing means includes a flexible finger 62 that extends forwardly from a mounting dog 63 fastened to the diverting means shaft 47. This finger also acts as the hide holding means. A single pole double throw switch 64 is also mounted upon the dog 63, comprising part of the sensing means, so as to be engageable by a slight flexing of finger 62. With this apparatus it is desired that each time the diverting means is moved to an operative position the flexible finger 62 will engage the hide and hold it at the top of the stack against slippage to either side. At the same time the finger 62 may be flexed sufficiently to reposition switch 64 to close a pair of contacts for a brief period to energize the elevating power means 21 until the finger 62 releases and opens those contacts.

The elevating power means may be mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic. A preferred form is shown in FIG- URES l and 2, comprising a vertical stand 63 supporting between two uprights a shaft 69. A single drive sprockets 70 is fastened to the shaft within the stand 68 and is connected by a chain 71 to a gear reducer 72 in turn driven by an electric motor 73. As will be subsequently made clear, the electric motor 73 is energized indirectly by the aforementioned switch 64.

A pair of sprockets 76 are fastened to the shaft 69 outwardly of the stand 68. In turn a pair of chains 78, 79 are trained across the upper portion of each respective sprocket 76 and are connected at their opposite ends to counterweights 30, 81 and the ends of elevator legs 19, 20.

The counterweights 80, 31 are of the required weight to partially counterbalance the weight of the stacking apparatus supported on legs 19, 20. Thus only a small amount of power is required from motor 73 to adjust the elevation of the apparatus by turning shaft 69 and sprockets 76.

Limit switches 84, 85 and respective cam trips 86, 87 are mounted on the stand 68 and shaft 69, respectively, to control the maximum upper and lower limits of elevation. The distance between these two points will normally be less than the peripheral measure of sprockets '76.

A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 7. The latter embodiment includes many elements of obvious similarity to the preferred embodiment. This form of the apparatus includes both a lower frame 90 and an upper frame 91 pivotally connected thereto at a knuckle joint 92. In this form the upper frame 91 is pivoted at about its midpoint so that the rear portion partially balances the forward portion over which the ribbon conveyors are drawn. An identical projecting means comprised of air jets (not shown) is provided at the end of the upper frame 91; and a pivotally mounted diverting series of rolls 94 is also provided and is similarly actuated.

The elevation adjusting means and holding means generally 95 is, however, of a different design and includes a pneumatic cylinder 96 with extendable piston rod 97 mounted at the end of the upper frame 91 upon an end member of a four-bar linkage generally 98 that includes the frame 91 and a stationary bar 99 on lower frame 90 as parts of the linkage system. With this form of mounting the pneumatic cylinder 96 and piston rod 97 may be maintained vertical. When the diverting rolls 94 are actuated to direct a hide to the near side of a horse, the cylinder 96 is actuated to extend the piston rod 97 its full length to engage the hide at the top of the stack. The cylinder 96 is mounted so that the extension of the piston rod will always lift the end of the upper frame 91 to the desired distance above the stack of hides. Piston rod 97 is retracted when the diverting rolls 94 are moved to inoperative position.

When thus raised the upper frame 91 will be locked in position against any return movement, when the piston rod 97 is retracted, by chain 191 connected between the rear end of the upper frame 91 and a counterweight 102. The chain 101 is trained about a ratchet sprocket 103 by also passing over an idler sprocket 104, .both of which are attached to a portion of the lower frame 90. When the outer end of the upper frame 91 is moved upwardly, chain 101 will be lowered and the ratchet sprocket 103 rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG- URE 7. The sprocket 103 is mounted to be freely rotatable in that direction. However, a pawl mechanism 105 prevents the sprocket from being rotated in a clockwise direction and thus effectively prevents the upper frame 91 from pivoting downwardly after once being raised.

Operation of the preferred apparatus shown in FIG URES 1 through 5 is controlled by an electrical circuit such as is shown in FIGURE 6. A similar circuit, modified in certain obvious respects, may be used to control the embodiment of FIGURE 7. Referring specifically to FIGURE 6 it is seen that the various components of the control apparatus are powered from a 120 volt alternating current supply Whereas the motor 73, which is preferably of a reversible type, may be advantageously powered by a 3 phase 220 volt electric current supply. The 120 volt current is provided through two main wires 108, 109. The electric lamp 37, to illuminate photocells 36, is connected across main wires 108, 109. Photocells 36 are series connected to the appropriate contacts on a photoelectric relay generally 110, the latter being selected from any one of a number of suitable commercially available items such as the Farmer Electric Company model PE-3. Similarly, a time delay relay generally 111, which is an adjustable type device wherein the time period may be set within certain broad limits by an operator, may be any one of a number of suitable commercially available devices such as Farmer Electric Company model 120.

A relay contact 112 in the photoelectric relay is also connected between wire 109 and the time delay relay 111, and will be closed when one or more of the photocells 36 are shaded. Preferably two banks of photocells 36 and 36a are series connected and located at two distances from the terminal pulley 25. As a hide proceeds toward the pulley, one or more of the first bank of photocells 36 will be shaded causing the contact 112 to be closed. The contact 112 will then remain closed until all photocells 36, 36a of both banks are unshaded, at which time the contact 112 will reopen. In turn, relay switch 112 actuates the time delay relay 111. The latter includes first and second relay contacts 113, 114 respectively. Both relay contacts 113, 114 are normally opened when the time delay relay generally 111 is inactive; however, when the latter is actuated by the closing of photoelectric relay contact 112 the first relay contact 113 immediately closes for the timed period. When the time runs down, contact 113 opens and the second relay contact 114 closes, and remains closed until the time delay relay generally 111 is reset (the latter occurring only by the opening of photoelectric relay contact 112).

Both the first and second relay contacts 113 and 114 are connected between the four-Way solenoid valve 58 and to main wire 109. The two-way solenoid valve 40 controlling the air jets 42 is also connected to the first relay contacts 113 in series with a normally open switch 115 and in parallel with a first coil 116 of relay 58. Similarly the elevating means generally 21 is connected to the second relay contact 114 in parallel with a second solenoid coil 117 of solenoid 58.

Upon the time delay relay generally 111 being first initiated, the relay contact 113 is closed to energize the first coil 116 of solenoid valve 58 .to cause pressurized air to be delivered to one end of pneumatic cylinder 56 whereby the shaft 47 supporting the diverting rolls 46, finger 62, and the sensing switch 64 are moved counterclockwise to an inoperative position. As the pneumatic cylinder 56 causes this apparatus to move, actuating rod 54 will close the switch 115 thereby energizing solenoid valve 40 to delivver air to jets 42 when the diverting and holding means are inoperative.

This attitude will be maintained until the preset time period expires, at which time relay contact 113 is re opened, de-energizing the solenoid 40, halting the air to manifold 41, and also de-energizing the coil 116 of the solenoid 58. At the same instant relay contact 114 is closed energizing an opposite coil 117 of valve 58, thereby causing air to be directed to the opposite end of the pneumatic cylinder 56 (reopening switch 115) which will drive the mechanism to swing shaft 47 clockwise to bring the diverting rolls 46 and the finger 62 into an operative position.

At the commencement of a stacking operation the elevation adjusting means is manually operated to assume a proper position with respect to an empty horse. Thereafter as successive hides are stacked the apparatus automatically cycles as above described, and, additionally, the elevation adjusting means is operated automatically, as required, to maintain a desired elevation of pulley 25 above the topmost stacked hide. Operation of the elevation adjusting means is controlled principally by the switch 64 and by a double pole push button 120 having two sets of contacts 119 and 121.

Further referring to FIGURE 6, single pole, double throw switch 64 is normally biased to Connect between main wire 109 and the normally open contacts 119 and 121 of pushbutton 120. Contact 119 is also connected back to coil 117 of solenoid valve 58 by a wire 118, and contact 121 is also connected through normally closed limit switch 85 to a down-operating solenoid 122 of a motor control relay generally 123, in turn controlling the reversible motor 73. The pulley 25 will be driven downwardly by momentarily closing contacts 119, 121 to energize solenoid 122 which energizes motor 73 to rotate sprockets 70 in a direction to lower legs 19, 20. A normally open holding circuit switch 124 connected between switches 64 and 85, parallel to pushbutton 120 is closed by solenoid 122 to maintain the latter energized until motor 73 drives the apparatus downwardly to a level where either limit switch 85 is opened or until switch 64 is repositioned. This circuit insures that switch 64 will be positioned to engage a horse or stack by reason of the momentary energizing of coil 117 of solenoid valve 58 through wire 118 at the instant contact 119 is closed by pushbutton 120.

Thereafter, as each hide approaches pulley 25 on ribbons 24 the finger 62 and switch 64 will be swung between operative and inoperative positions, with diverting rolls 46, in accordance with contacts 113 and 114 of the time delay relay generally 111. As previously explained, finger 62 will be swung to engage and hold each successive hide as its is draped across the horse. When the stack of hides is sufficiently high to flex finger 62 enough to reposition switch 64, the latter will connect main wire 109 through normally closed limit switch 84 to an up-operating solenoid 125 of the motor control relay generally 123. Thus, energizing solenoid 125 will cause the motor 73 to rotate sprocket 70 in an opposite direction to raise legs 19, until finger 62 is relaxed sufficiently to release switch 64 to a normal position. The latter occurrence deenergizes solenoid 125 and hence deenergizes motor 73.

The apparatus will continue to raise, stepwise with successive hides, until limit switch 84 is opened by cam trip 86. At that time an operator temporarily stops the stacking procedure and replaces the loaded horse with an empty one. Thereafter the operations are repeated as hereinbefore described.

A manual up-switch 126 is also connected parallel to switch 64 between main wire 109 and limit switch 84. This enables an operator to override the automatic control and raise the elevation of the apparatus at his option.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 8l0. This apparatus is a variation of the preferred apparatus, and is devised to be capable of inverting hides. To the extent that the apparatus of FIG- URES 8-10 includes parts found in the preferred apparatus of FIGURES 15, like parts are designated by identical reference characters bearing a prime exponent.

Thus, it will be seen in FIGURES 8l0 that the apparatus is placed to cast hides upon a horse 10' mounted on casters 11', and comprises an inclined frame 17 extending upwardly from a delivery conveyor 18'. A plurality of ribbons 24 are trained about a terminal pulley 25, mounted on a shaft 26' at the upper end of frame 17,

8 and a drive pulley 27 mounted on a shaft 28 adjacent the delivery conveyor 18'.

Fingers 32 are located to assist the transfer of hides from the delivery conveyor 18' to the ribbons 24 disposing the same side of the hide upward as is delivered on conveyor 18'. The apparatus also includes a first sensing means such as photocells 36' located between ribbons 24' so as to be normally exposed to light from an overhead lamp 37'.

Similarly, second sensing means generally 35', including a finger 62 and microswitch 64', and elevating means generally 21 comprise a part of the apparatus and function as in the preferred embodiment to adjust the elevation of the terminal end of the frame 17 above a stack of hides on horse 10, and to hold the hides in position thereon when cast forwardly without being inverted. However, the second sensing means 35' is supported alone between a pair of brackets 48 pivotally mounted on the terminal shaft 26. (The diverting means is removed from these elements in this modification of the apparatus.)

The second sensing means generally 35' is caused to be moved between positions spaced above and at rest upon the stack of hides by a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 56. An extension rod 136 is connected between an arm 131 on bracket 48 and a forwardly extending actuator rod 55' of the pneumatic cylinder 56'. Thus, when air under pressure is directed to the forward end (right side in FIGURE 8) of cylinder 56' the sensing means 35' will be swung clockwise into contact with the stack of hides; and when air is directed to the rear end of the cylinder 56 the sensing means 35' will be swung out of contact with the hides.

In this embodiment the diverting means comprises a second series of air jets 134 provided along an air pipe 135 fixed in position slightly above and beyond the terminal pulley 25', and parallel thereto, on a subframe 136 secured to the end of frame 17. The jets 134 are aimed downwardly and rearwardly between the frame 17 and horse 10'.

As with the preferred apparatus this modification also includes the forward projecting means of air jets provided by a manifold 41', connected to a source of pressurized air, with plural holes 42' aimed from beneath the pulley 25 forwardly across the top of the horse 10'. Accordingly, it can be operated substantially in accordance with the preferred embodiment to first project the leading portion of a hide on a stream of air from manifold 41 to the far side of the horse 10' and then divert the rear portion of the hide by redirecting air from manifold 41' to the pipe 135 at about the time that the second sensing means 35' is swung into contact with the stack. Such operation may be affected by a control circuit similar to that shown in FIGURE 6.

However, the greatest advantage of the apparatus of FIGURES 810 is obtained where it is desired to invert each or alternate hides from the position in which they are delivered on conveyor 18. For this purpose a retaining wand 138 is included to engage the leading portion of hides on the near side of the horse 10. The wand 138 is pivotally mounted between vertical members 139 depending from the frame 17. A tension spring 140 is extended between the lower ends of the members 139 and a fixed angle iron 141 to tend to maintain the position of the wand 138 as it is raised with the frame 17' as the stack increases in height.

The wand 138 is biased toward the horse 10' by means of a tension spring 142 connected between a crank arm 143 extending therefrom and a fixed arm 144 mounted on a member 139. The wand 138 may be pivoted away from the horse 10' by means of a pneumatic cylinder 145 also mounted on the member 139 wherefrom a piston rod 146 is extensible toward the crank arm 144 so as to rotate it counterclockwise when air under pressure is delivered to the cylinder 145.

To operate the apparatus of FIGURE 8 to invert a hide upon the horse the circuit of FIGURE 6 is modified in a manner that will be obvious to persons skilled in the art so as to cause the elements to operate in a sequence described hereafter. As the leading edge of a hide approaches the photocells 36' on ribbons 24' the apparatus is in the posture shown in FIGURE 8. Upon the hide obstructing light to the photocells 36' pressurized air is directed (1) to the forward end of actuating cylinder 56', causing the sensing means generally 35 to be swung into contact with the top of the stack of hides, (2) to the cylinder 145, thereby pivoting the retaining wand 138 away from the horse 10', and (3) to the overhead air pipe 135, causing a stream of air to be directed between the frame 17' and horse 10'.

Accordingly, the elevations of the terminal pulley 25 will be adjusted and as the leading portion of the hide extends beyond the terminal pulley it will be diverted rearwardly as shown in FIGURE 9 between the wand 138 and horse 10. Obstruction of light to the photocells 36 also, as previously described, commences a time measurement at the end of which approximately one-half of the hide will have passed the pulley 25'.

At the completion of the time measurement the control circuit operates the apparatus to assume the condition shown in FIGURE 10 to: (1) redirect pressurized air to the rear of cylinder 56 so as to swing the sensing means 35' upwardly, (2) redirect pressurized air to manifold 41 from pipe 135 so as to project a stream of air forwardly against the hide in a direction across the horse 10, and (3) close off air to cylinder 145 allowing the wand 138 to press the leading portions of the hide against the near side of a stack on horse 10.

Thus, the trailing portion of the hide will be cast across the horse 10' while the leading portion is held against displacement. As previously described the reestablishment of light to the photocells 36 after passage of the trailing edge resets the control circuit for the next hide.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved method for stacking hides and the like, said method comprising: conveying a hide along an upwardly inclined path toward an elevated terminal point; detecting the presence of the leading edge of said hide as it approaches said point; casting the leading portion of said hide to one side of a receiving horse; casting the trailing portion of said hide to the opposite side of said horse; detecting the height of said terminal point above the last hide on said horse; and adjusting said height to a desired distance.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each hide is held upon said horse while the trailing portion of the hide is cast.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the leading portion is cast upon the near side of said horse.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the leading portion of the hide is cast to said one side for a desired period of time following said detecting of said leading edge; and at the completion of said period the casting of the trailing portion of said hide to said opposite side is comrnenced.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the hide is first cast by projecting a stream of air forwardly from beneath said terminal point to carry the leading edge and portion of said hide forwardly beyond said terminal point so that it falls a distance therebeyond upon the far side of a receiving horse located substantially beneath said terminal point; then discontinuing said projecting stream of air and diverting the trailing portion and edge of said hide as it leaves said terminal point to fall below and somewhat behind said point upon the near side of said horse; and

holding the uppermost portion of said hide on said horse as the trailing portion is diverted.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the hide is first cast by projecting a downward stream of air downwardly and rearwardly from above said terminal point to carry the leading edge and portion of said hide under said terminal point so that it falls upon the near side of a receiving horse located substantially beneath said terminal point; then discontinuing said downward stream of air, and projecting a forward stream of air forwardly from beneath said terminal point to urge the trailing portion of said hide beyond said terminal point so that it falls upon the far side of said receiving horse, and holding the leading portion of said hide on said horse as the trailing portion is delivered thereto.

7. An improved stacking apparatus for hides and the like, said apparatus comprising: conveying means inclined to a terminal end above a horse for receiving hides; first sensing means located along said conveyor in advance of said terminal end to detect the presence of a hide on said conveyor approaching said terminal end; projecting means adjacent said conveyor at said terminal end to urge a portion of a hide passing from the end of said conveyor in a forwardly direction across the far side of said horse; diverting means adjacent said conveyor at said terminal end to urge a portion of a hide passing from the end of said conveyor in a rearwardly direction across the near side of said horse; second sensing means connected to said terminal end of said conveyor for detecting the height of said terminal end with respect to the top of the hides stacked on the horse; and elevating :means connected to said conveyor and said second sensing means to raise the end of said conveyor to maintain the height of said end above the top of said hide at a substantially constant distance.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 including holding means movable between operative and inoperative positions to press the first portion of said hide delivered to said horse thereagainst.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said diverting means is a plurality of spaced rolls mounted to swing about said terminal end of said conveying means from a position above said terminal end to a position below said terminal end the latter being operative to divert a hide passing across said terminal end rearwardly to the near side of said horse.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second sensing means is a switch mounted to be movable with said rolls and positioned to extend into contact with the uppermost hide on said horse when the rolls are swung to an operative position below said terminal end.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 including a holding finger mounted to be movable with said diverting rolls to engage the upper surface of a hide at the top of a stack of hides.

12. An improved stacking apparatus for hides and the like, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of parallel endless conveyor ribbons trained through an inclined path to an elevated terminal pulley; first sensing means located between said ribbons near said terminal pulley; an air manifold positioned parallel and below said terminal pulley, said manifold having a plurality of jets aimed between said ribbons and beyond said terminal pulley to project a hide leaving said pulley forwardly thereof; air supply means connected to said manifold; a shaft and a plurality of spaced rolls thereon mounted to swing concentrically about said terminal pulley from an inoperative position above said pulley to an operative position below said pulley whereby to rearwardly divert a portion of a hide leaving said pulley; a holding finger mounted upon said shaft with said rolls, said holding finger being positioned to extend a known distance below said terminal pulley to fiexibily engage the topmost portion of a hide when said shaft is swung to an operative position; a second sensing means mounted on said shaft in association with said finger and contactable thereby upon the flexing of said finger through a certain distance; actuating means connected to swing said shaft, rolls finger and second sensing means between said positions; elevating means connected to vertically adjust the elevation of said terminal pulley; and a control means connected between said first and second sensing means and said air supply means, actuating means, and elevating means to sequentially connect and disconnect air to said manifold, cause the actuating means to move the shaft, rolls finger and second sensing means to an operative position and actuate the elevating means in accordance with the top of a stack of hides, contacted by said holding finger.

13. An improved stacking apparatus for hides and the like, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of parallel endless conveyor ribbons trained through an inclined path to an elevated terminal pulley; first sensing means located between said ribbons near said terminal pulley; an air manifold positioned parallel and below said terminal pulley, said manifold having a plurality of jets aimed between said ribbons and beyond said terminal pulley to project a hide leaving said pulley forwardly thereof; air supply means connected to said manifold; an air pipe secured parallel and above said pulley and connected to 12 said air supply means, said pipe having a plurality of jets aimed below said pulley to divert a portion of said hide below and rearward of said pulley; a retaining wand mounted below and behind said pulley, said wand being pivotable to engage said hides along a nearer side of a stack thereof to swing concentrically about said terminal pulley and contact the top of said stack; actuating means connected to swing said second sensing means; elevating means connected to vertically adjust the elevation of said terminal pulley; and a control means to sequentially connect and disconnect air to said pipe and to said manifold, 'pivot said retaining wand, cause the actuating means to move the second sensing means to an operative position and actuate the elevating means in accordance with the top of a stack of hides, contacted by said sensing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,660,432 11/1953 Wilske 271-68 2,743,924 5/1956 Elliott 27l-68 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,393 ,908 July 23, 1968 Roger L. Griffin It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 21, "denergized" should read deenergized line 23, "leave" should read have Column 5, line 64, after "by" insert a Column 6, line 66, "delivver" should read deliver Column 12, line 6, after "thereof" insert a second sensing means mounted Signed and sealed this 30th day of December 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

